SuperNats XXVII

230DAYS

2025 Winter Series

2025 TBA

2024 Pro Tour

78DAYS

SKUSA Mexico

15DAYS

2024 PKC

23DAYS

2024 TSRS

36DAYS

Next ProKart Challenge Event


PRE-REG OPENS TODAY at 7 PM
Will close April 16 at 11:59 PM PDT
 

Round 2 - Buttonwillow (Reverse) April 20-21, 2024
Buttonwillow Raceway Park
24551 Lerdo Highway
Buttonwillow, CA 93206
(661) 764-5333
buttonwillowraceway.com
Google Maps
Please contact the facility for Kart Track hours.  No Friday practice.

California ProKart Challenge

ProKart Challenge North to Run Sonoma Circuit Backwards
Monday, 09 June 2008 20:23
Superkarts! USA has a long history of new and innovative events over the more than 10-year history of the karting organization. Under a new era for the past few years, this philosophy has remained as the SKUSA staff will be the first program in the Jim Russell Karting Center at Infineon Raceway history to run the national track configuration in the reverse direction, which it will for the upcoming third round of the ProKart Challenge North on June 13-14.

“With the series set to run all year long at the Infineon circuit, we needed to find a way to shake things up for the competitors,” stated SKUSA President Tom Kutscher. “With this new regional program, we need to keep the excitement building as we have done in the first two rounds, and what better way than to make history at this popular track.”

Another surprise for the upcoming ProKart Challenge race is the debut of a new class. While the S5 Jr. category has yet to flourish as a viable class in the NorCal area, Kutscher has been approached about adding HPV2 Junior as a possible new class in the upcoming Supernationals XII in November. As a test, Kutscher is inviting the HPV2 Junior drivers in the NorCal area to run with the regular class lineup next weekend – without becoming a SKUSA member for this first race. The normal International Karting Federation (IKF) rules will apply to this group.

Dan Chase, father of a new up-and-coming HPV2 Junior driver, was the one who approached Kutscher, and had this to say about the invitation, “Once Tom agreed to allow this class to run at ProKart, some of the best drivers in the area have committed to coming -- including the 2007 NorCal Junior II Driver of the Year David Vasquez, the 2007 Jim Russell Junior 1 Driver of the Year and 2006/2007 Infineon J1 Champion Joe Keaton, and even the current HPV2 points leader in the Jim Russell series Katherine Cornell. All of the drivers are especially excited to be running with some of the best racers that ProKart and SKUSA have to offer. Our motor package offers considerable parity, putting the results squarely on driver talent and setup.”

Race director Steve Buckner added, “I have been very impressed with the skill and safety aspects of the driving with our NorCal group of racers. SKUSA is always interested in growing the sport with new classes of interest. If there are enough drivers to support a class, we will pursue it. This weekend’s race will surely be some great racing.”

The Jim Russell International Karting Center is one of the premier karting venues in North America. The 16-turn, 3/4-mile course has been host to many of the top programs across the country, including the SKUSA organization. The famous ‘Tic-Tac-Toe’ section is well-known, as curb-jumping is the norm and the tight passing section is a dream for any hardcore driver or karting photographer.

Looking at the early ProKart North championship standings, Cody Hodgson holds a slight advantage over Jess Peterson in the S1 category. Craig Corwin and Matt Alcorn have been unstoppable in G1 and S4, each logging two weekend sweeps to hold a large point lead in their respective classes heading into round three. Jason Toft currently sits on top of both the competitive S3 and TaG Senior divisions, a tough feat that will be interesting to watch as the season progresses. Herman Ip has a stranglehold on the TaG Masters Light division, while TaG Masters championship leader Rob Soares is questionable for round three. In a heat race at round two, Soares flipped his kart and ran the rest of the weekend with a soar hand, finding out later that it was indeed broken. With the arm still in a cast, Soares may try to ironman the event, or he may elect to sit it out.

In addition to making history, the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School will be sponsoring a Friday night BBQ for all the competitors, crew, and families to continue the PKC commitment of making each and every event unique, competitive and fun for all.